venture reference
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Venture ReferenceCommon Sources for Business Questions
Jennie BurroughsSteve McCann
University of Montana
Common Questions
Audience ◦Demographics◦Experiences◦Problems
Scenarios
Planning a new business
Ready for the next level
Job hunter
Community “watchdog”
The New Entrepreneur
Resources for helping a user who is starting a new business
Photo from Flickr; cc yodel anecdotal
New Business: Economic Landscape
Montana Business Quarterly◦Online through Wilson, Ebsco, Infotrac◦ISSN: 0026-9921
Fed “Beige Book”◦ http://www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/BeigeBook/2009/
◦Look for 9th District – Minneapolis
9th District Fed
http://www.minneapolisfed.org/research/data/district/forecast/
New Business: Industry Analysis
US Industry Trade Analysis
http://tse.export.gov/
American Factfinder◦County Business
Patterns◦Business Statistics by
Zip Code◦http://factfinder.censu
s.gov
New Business: Industry Analysis
Industry analysis◦Gale Encyclopedia of Organizations
Current Industrial Reports – Census.gov◦http://www.census.gov/cir/www/
BizInfo Library: http://www.bizinfolibrary.org
New Business: Competitive Analysis
Competition◦ Who are your competitors?
Local competitive data: ◦ City Clerk's office◦ County Clerk's office◦ Chamber of Commerce
◦ County Business Patterns – CenStats http://censtats.census.gov/
Paid Databases: ReferenceUSA
New Business: Demographics & Psychographics
Demographics◦ Population
Characteristics “market segmentation” “demographics”
Psychographics◦ Personality Aspects
“behavior” “decision making” “attitudes” “perceptions” “lifestyles”
State & County Quickfacts: http://census.gov/
Statistical Abstract: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/
New Business
More Statistics to support business plans
◦Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/
◦Department of Transportation: http://dot.gov/
◦Energy Information Administration: http://www.eia.doe.gov/
New business
Small Business Administration◦http://www.sba.gov◦Small business planner◦SBA loans◦Loads of advice
The Mid-career Businessperson
Resources for entrepreneurs seeking the next step
Photo from Flickr; cc Jotpunkt
Next steps
Small Business Administration (again)◦http://www.sba.gov◦Good advice for expanding your business◦Advice for selling your business◦Counseling opportunities (SCORE)
Next steps
Business.gov (yes, again)◦http://www.business.gov ◦Advice for expanding businesses◦Staying compliant◦Government contracting
Later funding opportunities
FedBizOps◦http://www.fbo.gov◦Source for government contracting opportunities◦Replaced Commerce Business Daily (CBD) in
2002
Grants.gov◦http://www.grants.gov ◦Grants for special projects/initiatives◦Opportunities for business as well as non-profits
Next steps
Grow your network
LinkedIn◦ http://linkedin.com
Twitter◦ http://twitter.com
Facebook◦ http://facebook.com
The Job Hunter
Resources to help job seekers find a new path, get connected, and find open jobs.
Photo from Flickr; cc Whiskeyboytx
Unemployment benefits
Montana Unemployment Insurance◦http://uid.dli.mt.gov/
Federal Information on unemployment ◦http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/unemployment-ins
urance/
You’re not alone (aka unemployment statistics)◦http://www.bls.gov/bls/unemployment.htm
New directions
Occupational Outlook Handbook◦http://www.bls.gov/OCO/ ◦Explore career options, outlooks, salaries
Career OneStop◦http://www.careeronestop.org/◦ Federal & state info for retraining, resume &
interview advice, self-assessment & career exploration
Job & Career Information (DoL)◦ http://www.doleta.gov/jobseekers/
Job Opportunities
Many local, state, and national sites with opportunities:
Monster.com◦ http://www.monster.com/
Yahoo! Hot Jobs◦ http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/
Career Builder◦ http://www.careerbuilder.com
Craig’s List? ◦ http://craigslist.com
Job Opportunities, cont.
Simply Hired◦http://www.simplyhired.com
LinkedIn◦http://www.linkedin.com
Job Opportunities, cont.
Montana JobLinc (Job Seeker Services)◦http://mtjoblinc.mt.gov
Jobs.mt.gov◦https://jobs.mt.gov
USA Jobs◦http://www.usajobs.gov
The Community “Watchdog”
They want to know where government funds are going and which businesses are benefiting
Photo from Flickr; cc Janos Szudi
Consolidated Federal Funds Report
http://www.census.gov/govs/www/cffr.html
Investment Research
Motley Fool◦http://www.fool.com/
Morningstar◦http://www.morningstar.com
Forbes◦ http://www.forbes.com/
Suggestions?